Mind-map It in 5 Minutes

As a teacher of writing, I'm often confronted with students who are full of good ideas but just can't seem to get them down on paper properly. Usually they just start writing an essay from the top, and the reader has to dive into a stream-of-consciousness-like monologue that ends somewhere totally unexpected. Since college professors and test center examinators usually don't have much time to appreciate students' writing artistically, it's my job to hand some tools to these students for writing more effectively, more goal-oriented and overall much faster.
One of the things I teach them is to start with brainstorming and writing down all their ideas as quickly as possible. The easiest way to do this? Make a mind map.

The first one to ever introduce the concept of mind maps to me was a professor at Ghent University (Professor Martin Valcke, for those who know him). He taught about the science behind instruction, the different techniques, systems, different ways of testing, and so on. 
He also taught us, and showed us, the value of mind maps. 

To make a mind map, start with the most important concept or idea which you put in the middle of your page. Then, by association, link other ideas and concepts to it, and then again do the same for those new ideas. You'll end up with a system of nodes that will show you the relationship -and degree of importance of that relationship- of each concept to the other. The picture at the bottom shows you a very elaborate example of a mind map on time management.

Mind maps are a great, quick way to get your thoughts, ideas, plans or feelings down on paper and to create room in your mind so you can start using it more creatively instead of for storing information. It's a great learning tool as well! 

I'm just getting back into studying about mind maps and how to use my brain more effectively with the help of The Mind Map Book (Amazon link) by Tony (and Barry) Buzan. It's a fascinating read!

Picture by Jean-Louis Zimmerman

Creativity First Thing in the Morning

Photo by 李思明

Creativity can be a slippery little eel. One day you're overflowing with new and exciting ideas; the next you're trying to dig into the depths of your brain but nothing at all comes up. Still, if you're in a position where creativity is a necessary part of your work-day (and these days, who isn't?) you will require new and fresh ideas on a day to day basis.

Take blogging, for example. I need a new idea to blog about every day, and after over 140 posts, that can be tricky sometimes.
How about those moms trying to find original snack ideas or interesting ways to cook vegetables? Those teachers coming up with exciting lesson plans? Students looking for a new twist on an old essay topic? Accountants finding a creative way to avoid taxes (just kidding)?

The point is, we could all use a bit more creative energy. So I want to urge you not to wait until your mind is clouded with mundane problems, but to get your creative juices flowing first thing in the morning.

Before you go to bed, take a minute to think of a problem that might arise tomorrow morning and that will require you to come up with a creative solution. If you can't think of anything, you could also try to think of a movie you just saw and how it ended. 

The next day, when you wake up and go to brush your teeth, before starting your everyday tasks, just have a look at the problem and try to think of any old idea you can come up with. It doesn't have to make sense. Part of being creative is thinking of solutions that are stupid, crazy and worthless, so that you can get to the good stuff eventually. 

Take advantage of this morning time when your mind is setting its pace for the rest of the day. Starting off creatively could affect you throughout the day and leave you more open to new perspectives.

Do you sometimes struggle with creativity? What do you do to get around it? I'm dying to know!